Zipper foot attachment for sewing machines

ABSTRACT

A presser bar attachment for sewing machines of different types, accommodating the sewing of zipper tapes to garments. A pair of foot elements are adjustably spaced from one another forming a guide channel to receive and guide zipper chains of different widths while the foot elements are engagable with the garment fabric. Both foot elements are also adjustably spaced, in relation to the needle, and to opposite sides of the needle. When the main foot element is adjustably positioned the needle is received into an alignment slot formed in its edge confronting with the edge of the second auxiliary foot element. Also, when the auxiliary foot element is adjustably positioned the needle is received into a slot formed and developed between two material engaging sections of the auxiliary foot element which are connected by a U shaped arm.

United States Patent- Gooderum [54] ZIPPER FOOT ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Leoda J. Gooderum, 1133 Vine St., La

Crosse, Wis. 54601 [151 3,677,209 [451 July 18,1972

3,294,048 12/1966 Micale ..1 12/240 Primary Examiner-Patfick D. Lawson Attorney-Robert E. Lowe ABSTRACT A presser bar attachment for sewing machines of difierent types, accommodating the sewing of zipper tapes to garments. A pair of foot elements are adjustably spaced from one another forming a guide channel to receive and guide zipper chains of different widths while the foot elements are engagable with the garment fabric. Both foot elements are also adjustably spaced, in relation to the needle, and to opposite sides of the needle. When the main foot element is adjustably positioned the needle is received into an alignment slot fonned in its edge confronting with the edge of the second auxiliary foot element. Also, when the auxiliary foot element is adjustably positioned the needle is received into a slot formed and developed between two material engaging sections of the auxiliary foot element which are connected by a U shaped arm.

14 Claims, 7 Drawing llgures Patented July 18, 1972 3,677,209

2 Sheets-Sheet l Leodo. Goflderum ,5 24 INVENTOR.

Patented July 18, 1972 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet z ZIPPER FOOT ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES CROS S-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 736,l66,filed June II, 1968.

This invention relates to pressure bar attachments for sewing machines and more particularly to a zipper foot attachment for engaging the fabric adjacent to and guiding a zipper as it is being sewn into a garment.

Special attachments to the presser bar of sewing machines for accommodating zippers are well known. One commonly utilized zipper foot attachment involves a single pivoted foot element both sides of which are provided with needle receiving notches, the element being adjustably mounted so as to permit stitching of both zipper tapes to the garment. Another type of zipper foot assembly involves a zipper guide channel of fixed width having an opening through which the needle extends for stitching the zipper tapes. The forgoing zipper foot attachments are limited in use and involve certain inconveniences.

An adjustable channel guiding zipper foot may accommodate and guide zipper chains of different widths in a straight path past the reciprocating needle providing a straight needle stitch line through the zipper tape. Design includes a main limb and a second auxiliary limb, adjustable towards and away from one another to form a guiding channel to receive the zipper chain.

However, the auxiliary limb of this zipper foot has certain disadvantages when the needle is received into its needle slot when the zipper foot is adjusted to allow stitching through the zipper tape adjacent the zipper tab pull. The needle receiving slot of the auxiliary limb is so designed that it will limit the neamess or closeness the needle is allowed to stitch adjacent the zipper tab pull. The needle stitch line may even stitch away from and around the zipper tab rather than straight off the zipper tape and closely adjacent to the zipper tab. Extremely close needle stitching near the zipper tab is desired during certain zipper installations. Therefore, the auxiliary limb has certain advantages as it will prevent the needle stitch line to stitch extremely close to the zipper tab.

The adjustable channel zipper foot, providing the above features and limitations, is shown and described in my copending application Ser. No. 736,166, filed June 1 l, 1968.

According to the present invention, however, there is provided an improved auxiliary limb capable of providing a stitch line through the zipper tape which is extremely close to and adjacent to the zipper pull tab.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an improved auxiliary limb, of the adjustable channel zipper foot, which is capable of stitching extremely close to the zipper pull tab when the guiding feature of the zipper foot is shifted off the zipper chain to allow stitching alongside the zipper tab. The improved auxiliary limb also provides a second channel guiding feature of fixed width to receive a zipper chain and this channel may be used as a convenient stitching guide as it will simplify one of the manuvering methods or steps required during the installation of certain zippers. A further object is to provide scale indicia which will facilitate the selection of critical needle positions within the needle slots of the two limbs. The zipper foot of the present invention is also designed with features allowing it to attach onto various sewing machines having different needle positions and of sewing machines having variations in shaft height. Also, the zipper foot attachment of the present invention may serve the functions presently associated with several different types of foot attachments presently known.

This zipper foot attachment of the present invention features a pair of fabric engaging foot elements which are spaced apart by an adjustable mount to guide zipper chains of different widths in a straight path past the reciprocating needle of the sewing machine, and may also be adjustably positioned without disassembly from the presser bar in order to allow stitching of the zipper tapes past the wider pull tab of the zipper. The fabric engaging foot elements may either be respectively aligned above the pair of fabric feeding elements that project upwardly from the bed of the sewing machine, or alternatively, only one of the foot elements may be aligned above both of the feed elements. A main foot element is slidably mounted in a support member secured by an adjustable clamp to the presser bar. An auxiliary foot element is slidably mounted on the main foot element with releasable locking means for adjusting the spacing between the foot elements and the position of both foot elements relative to the needle bar. The improved auxiliary foot element contains a first material engaging portion supported as described above, and a second material engaging portion connected to said first material engaging portion by a U-shaped support, thereby allowing use of the needle in a slot formed between the two portions. The needle may also be used and received into an opening formed inside the U-shaped support. Thus, the U-shape actually extends the length of the needle slot of the auxiliary limb. The U-shaped support is so positioned over the needle slot of the main foot element that the needle of the sewing machine may be received into and through the auxiliary limb slot, continuing into the open inside area of the U-shape extension, while at this same time it is received into the needle slot of the main limb. The adjusting facilities are such as to permit positioning of the foot elements transversely of the direction of fabric feed on either side of the needle. Visable gauges are formed on the attachment in order to facilitate selection of the needle positions in the needle receiving slots formed in the two foot elements. The attachment is also capable of being mounted on different types of machines such as low shank, high shank and slant needle machines. Dual needle and left needle position machines are also accommodated. If desired, one of the two foot elements may be removed and the zipper foot attachment utilized in the same manner as the single foot element type of zipper attachment in common use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will be subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the parts of the zipper foot attachment assembled with a zipper chain being guided by the fixed channel.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the zipper foot attachment attached onto a left needle position sewing machine and the zipper foot is arranged for bypass of the zipper pull tab while continuing the stitching of the zipper tape.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken substantially through a plain indicated by a line 3-3 in FIG. 2 showing a zipper chain guided into the adjustable channel.

FIG. 4 is a top view similar to FIG. 2 showing the filler plate piece used as the zipper foot is attached to a center needle position machine.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the filler plate piece.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing disassembled parts of the support member, the clamping means and the fastening means.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified fonn of the attachment.

Referring to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the improved auxiliary foot element is generally denoted by numeral 10. The entire zipper foot attachment is denoted by numeral 12. The zipper foot attachment includes a support member generally referred to by reference numeral 14 comprising an extended grooved guide portion 15 and a clamp means 16 to removably fix the zipper foot onto the presser bar 18 of a sewing machine by means of the sewing machine clamp screw 19. I

As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment 12 is mounted on the lower end of the presser bar 18 and above a sewing machine bed. The fabric, or zipper tape 50, is fed by means of the usual serrated feeding elements 60 (FIG. 3) that project upwards and rearwards from the sewing machine bed 58, while the fabric is pressed down onto the bed by the foot attachment. The presser bar 18 is disposed in parallel spaced relation to the needle bar 62 from which the threaded sewing needle 24 extends downwards in order to stitch the fabric by means of the thread 64 as the needle bar is reciprocated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a main foot element generally denoted by numeral 20 includes a slide body portion 22 more clearly seen in FIG. 2, and from the slide body extends downwards and laterally towards the sewing machine needle 24,'a material engaging main limb 26. The slide body 22 of the main foot element 20 is slidably received into the extended grooved guide portion (FIG. 1) of the support member and is adapted to be locked in a plurality of adjusted positions on the support member by a clamping screw 28. The clamping screw 28 extends through a horizontal adjustment slot 29 (FIG. 6) formed into the grooved guide 15 of the support member and received into a bored hole formed into the rear of the slide body portion 22.

Referring to FIG. 1, the auxiliary foot element 10 includes a grooved mounting face 30 and from one end of the grooved face 30 extends downwards and laterally towards the needle a second auxiliary material engaging limb 32. The auxiliary limb 32 includes two material engaging sections 31 and 33 connected by a U-arm 36 for purposes to be hereafter explained. The grooved mounted face 30 of the auxiliary foot is slidably mounted on the slide body portion 22 of the main foot element and is adapted to be locked in adjustably spaced relation thereto by means of a clamping screw 34. The clamping screw 34 extends through the horizontal adjustment slot 35 of the mounting face 30 and into a second bored hole formed into the front side of the slide body portion 22. This front threaded bored hole is longitudinally spaced from the threaded bore in the rear of the slide body. The auxiliary limb 32 is therefore adjustable in selective spaced relation to and from the main limb 26.

Referring to FIG. 6, a mounting arm 17 of the support member 14 is of an inverted L-shaped configuration so as to form a passage 21 allowing the slide body 22 and the attached grooved face 30 of the auxiliary limb to be slidably displaced through the passage 21. Therefore, both the main limb 26 and the auxiliary limb 32 are slidably displaceable so as to position both material engaging limbs on either side of the needle bar.

As hereinbefore indicated, the slide body 22 of the main foot element is fixed into the grooved guide portion 15 of the support member 14 by means of clamping screw 28 and the support member 14 is fastened onto the sewing machine presser bar 18. Thus, vertical displacement is imparted to the presser bar through the attached support member 14 by the extended main limb 26 in both directions, when the main limb is positioned above one or both the operating serrated foot elements 60 (this positioning may be seen in FIG. 3). Therefore, displacement of the presser bar in both directions is effected through the support member by the main limb. Similarly, such vertical movement is transmitted in both directions from the main limb 26 to the auxiliary'foot element 32 as the auxiliary limb is fixed onto the slide body 22 of the main foot element by means of clamping screw 34. Further, when the auxiliary limb is positioned above one or both the operating sewing machine feeding elements, a likewise vertical displacement is imparted to the presser bar in both directions by the auxiliary limb 32, through the slide body 22 and continuing through the support member 14 to the presser bar.

As more clearly seen in FIG. 3, the underside of the auxiliary limb 32 is provided with a recess 86 onone side thereof opposite the main limb 26. The recess 86 will permit the main limb 26 to firmly engage the zipper tape 50 adjacent the zipper chain 52 to hold it in engagement with the fabric feeding elements 60. Without recess 86 an overlapping of the fabric 88 below the auxiliary limb 32 would prevent the main limb 26 from holding the fabric in engagement with the feeding elements 60 since both limbs 26 and 32 have their lowermost surfaces thereof at the same level.

As hereinbefore indicated, the auxiliary foot element 10 is divided into two fabric engaging sections, a front section 31 and a rear section 33 of the auxiliary limb 32 (FIG. 1). Referring to FIG. 2, the U-arm 36 connects said sections 31 and 33 and a needle slot 40 developes in the open area formed between the two sections. The U-arm is also designed to receive the needle 24 into its open area 38 formed inside the U-arm. The needle slot 40 of the auxiliary limb is in alignment with the extending U-arm 36 and the U-arm open area 38 actually becomes an extension in length of the needle slot 40. The U-arm has an elevated bend 46 (FIG. 3) allowing the U- arm to freely move above the main limb 26 when selected and fixed adjusted positions of the auxiliary limb 32 is made either nearer to or farther from the main limb 26. A needle slot 48 of the main limb aligns with both the needle slot 40 and the U- arm opening 38 of the auxiliary limb, thus, the U-arm will encircle the main limb needle slot 48, as seen in FIG. 2. The extended length of the U-arm is such so as to allow this encircling when the auxiliary limb is positioned a selected distance away from the main limb in order to receive and guide a zipper chain 52 between both limbs (FIG. 3).

As previously indicated, when both limbs 26 and 32 are slidably and selectively adjusted in a movement direction transversely of the direction of fabric feed, the needle 24 may be received from outside the needle slot 40 of the auxiliary limb (FIG. 2) and into and through this needle slot 40, continuing farther into opening 38 of the U-arm (FIG. I) while at this same time it will be received into needle slot 48 of the main limb which is positioned directly under the U-arm opening. Thus, the needle has unobstructed movement from out side the needle opening 40 of the auxiliary limb to the very inside edge of the needle slot 48 of the main limb.

Referring to FIG. 3, the fabric engaging limbs 26 and 32 of the attachment are adjustable so as to form a guide channel 54 between which a zipper chain 52 of various widths may pass whether locked, as shown, or unlocked. The selected distance the auxiliary limb edge 44 is removed from the main limb edge 45 forms the channel into which zipper chains are received, thus guiding the chain in a straight path past the reciprocating needle, and granting a likewise straight stitching path of the threaded needle 24 in the fabric edge tape 50 of the zipper. Further, both limbs 26 and 32 with the channel 54 formed between, are laterally adjustable to either side of the needle. Therefore, it is'apparent that the channel formed between may be spaced the desired distance near to or farther from the needle and on either side of the needle. Thus, the needle will be received into either the needle slot 48 of the main limb 26 (FIG. 1) or may be received into needle slot 40 of the auxiliary limb 32 to its very outside edge (FIG. 2) or in any position thereinbetween. It will also be observed from FIG. 3 that stitching of the needle 24 along the zipper tape 50 may proceed with both limbs 26 and 32 closely straddling the zipper chain 52 with the needle stitching close to the zipper chain. Referring to FIG. 2, both limbs may be slidably repositioned when approaching the zipper pull tab 56 without disturbing the channel spacing therebetween. Also, when repositioning the limbs, it will be observed that the needle may be received to the outside edge of the needle slot 40 allowing bypass of the limbs with the continued straight and close stitching past the pull tab which is wider than the zipper chain.

The auxiliary foot element 10 may also be removed from the slide body 22 by removal of fastening element 34 so the zipper foot attachment 10 may then be used in a conventional manner employing a single main limb 26. A notch (FIG. 4) may be used as desired, providing a second needle slot.

The auxiliary limb also features a channel 66 as more clearly seenin FIG. 3 of fixed width formed into the underside of the auxiliary limb and longitudinally along front section 31 and rear section 33. The channel may be conveniently used to guide a zipper chain of a determined width during certain zipper installations as shown in FIG. 1.

In order to gauge critical needle position within needle slots 40 and 48, position indicating indicia or scales 68 (FIG. 1) are formed in the front face of grooved guide of the support member. Needle positions may be selected with adjusted movement of both limbs and by aligning end 70 of the slide body with the indicia. Thus, positioning of the interconnected foot elements to an adjusted position relative to the needle is facilitated with the use of the scales 68.

The zipper foot attachment 12 may be mounted on different types of sewing machines such as low shank, high shank, and slant needle. As seen in FIG. 6, the mounting am 17 of the support member 14 is provided with a plurality of apertures. The apertures include screw-receiving bores 78 and 80'vertically spaced from each other and an angular adjustment opening 82 located adjacent the top edge of the mounting arm 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fabric engaging limbs 26 and 32 of the zipper foot attachment extend downwardly a predetermined distance from the support member 14 in order to properly engage the zipper tape fabric 50 on the sewing machine bed when the attachment is secured to the presser bar of a low shank sewing machine. Referring to FIG. 6, the fasteners or screws 74 of the clamp assembly will extend through bore holes 84 of the clamp assembly 16 and into the two lowermost openings 78 and 80 in the mounting arm 17, this provides the correct joining to accommodate the low shank machine. In the high shank type of sewing machine, the fasteners 74 of clamp assembly 16 extend through bore holes 84 and into the two uppermost openings 80 and 82 of the mounting arm 17 in view of the increased vertical distance between the lower end of the presser bar of the high shank machine and its bed. This assembly accommodating the high shank sewing machine is shown in FIG. 7. In a slant needle type of sewing machine its parallel spaced presser bar and needle bar are disposed at an angle to its machine bed. Accordingly, the clamp unit 16 is then secured to the support member 14 of the attachment at a corresponding angle necessary to hold the limbs of the attachment in proper position to engage the fabric. The angular position of the clamp assembly 16 on the mounting arm 17 is accommodated by the screws 74 joining into the bore holes 84 of the clamp assembly and into the angular extent of the uppermost opening 82 and into opening 80. Thus, the attachment 12 is readily adaptable to machines of different shaft heights.

There are basically two types of fixed needle position sewing machines. One is the center needle sewing machine where the needle is positioned almost directly in front of the presser bar 18 (FIG. 4). The other, a left needle position sewing machine finds the needle position more to the left of the presser bar (FIG. 2). When the attachment 12 is attached to the left needle sewing machine, as shown in FIG. 2, the selected indicia of the scales 68 is used to position the foot elements relative to the needle. However, when the zipper foot is attached onto a center needle position machine, with the needle positioned slightly to the right in comparison to the needle location of the left needle machine, a filler plate 72 (FIG. 5) is required to compensate for the difference of the needle positions of the two types of sewing machines. Therefore, when the scales 68 are used the needle of the center needle sewing machine will also fall into the same position as the scale selected for the left needle machine. The filler plate 72 is placed between the clamping means 16 and the mounting arm 17 of the support member 14 (FIG. 4) and is held in place by the same screws 74 that fasten clamping means 16 to mounting arm 17. These screws extend through holes 76 formed into the filler plate. The thickness of the filler plate is equal to the position difference location of the left needle from the center needle.

FIG. 7 shows a modified arrangement of the zipper foot attachment l2 and more particularly features a modified design of the auxiliary foot element 10 consisting of a slide body portion 22 from which an auxiliary limb 32' extends downwards and laterally towards the needle 24. The modified auxiliary limb 32' contain the same features as hereinbefore described,

namely: a front portion 31 and a rear section 33' connected by a U-arm 36' with a needle slot 40 developed between said two sections. The U-arm is designed to receive a needle 24 into its open area 38 formed inside the U-arm. The auxiliary limb also features a channel 66' of fixed width cut into the underside of the front and rear sections 31 and 33'.

The support member 14 has identical features and functions as hereinbefore indicated. The support member is attached onto the lower end of a sewing machine presser bar 18 by means of its clamping means 16. It will be observed that the main foot element 20 has been eliminated in this modified arrangement of the zipper foot attachment 10'.

The modified auxiliary limb 32 features a slide body arrangement 22' which will permit the auxiliary limb 32' to be fastened directly onto the grooved guide portion 15 of the support member and is adapted to be locked in a plurality of adjusted positions on the support member by clamping screw 28 which extends through the adjustment slot 29 (FIG. 6) of the grooved guide portion, entering into a bored hole formed into the rear of the slide body 22'. Therefore, the extending auxiliary limb 32' may be laterally positioned, with fixed space selections between using clamping screw 28, to opposite sides of the needle 24. When this lateral adjustment is made, the needle 24 may be received from outside the needle slot 40 continuing through needle slot 40' and into open area 38 of the extended U-arm 36' without obstruction.

The use of this modified form of attachment 10 is particularly desirable when the fixed channel 66' is used to guide zipper chains as shown in FIG. 7.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a sewing machine having a presser bar and a reciprocable needle bar forwardly spaced therefrom, the improvement comprising:

a. a presser foot assembly including support means for securing said assembly to said presser bar;

b. said presser foot assembly including first and second material engaging elements extending forwardly of said presser bar toward said needle bar;

c. said second material engaging element being forwardly spaced from said first material engaging means and operatively connected thereto.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second material engaging elements are operatively connected by a substantially U-shaped member oriented laterally of said material engaging elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said U-shaped member includes a downwardly extending portion at each tip thereof wherein said member is vertically spaced from said material engaging elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said presser foot assembly is vertically and angularly adjustable.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a filler plate means for altering the lateral position of said presser foot assembly relative to said presser bar.

6. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first material engaging element lies rearwardly of said needle bar and said second material engaging element lies forwardly of said needle bar.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including a third material engaging element laterally spaced from said first and second material engaging elements. 1

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third material engaging element includes a a cut-away portion cooperating with said first and second material engaging elements to form an elongated lateral slot.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third material engaging elements is laterally moveable relative to said first and second material engaging elements.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second material engaging elements are laterally moveable relative to said third material engaging element.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes an elongated guide portion, and wherein said third formed in the underside thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and second material engaging elements include a cut-away portion on the underside thereof, said cut-away portion being laterally spaced from said fixed width channel such that said channel lies intermediate of said needle bar and saidv cut-away portion. 

1. In combination with a sewing machine having a presser bar and a reciprocable needle bar forwardly spaced therefrom, the improvement comprising: a. a presser foot assembly including support means for securing said assembly to said presser bar; b. said presser foot assembly including first and second material engaging elements extending forwardly of said presser bar toward said needle bar; c. said second material engaging element being forwardly spaced from said first material engaging means and operatively connected thereto.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second material engaging elements are operatively connected by a substantially U-shaped member oriented laterally of said material engaging elements.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said U-shaped member includes a downwardly extending portion at each tip thereof wherein said member is vertically spaced from said material engaging elements.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said presser foot assembly is vertically and angularly adjustable.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes a filler plate means for altering the lateral position of said presser foot assembly relative to said presser bar.
 6. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first material engaging element lies rearwardly of said needle bar and said second material engaging element lies forwardly of said needle bar.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 including a third material engaging element laterally spaced from said first and second material engaging elements. 1
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third material engaging element includes a a cut-away portion cooperating with said first and second material engaging elements to form an elongated lateral slot.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said third material engaging elements is laterally moveable relative to said first and second material engaging elements.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second material engaging elements are laterally moveable relative to said third material engaging element.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said support means includes an elongated guide portion, and wherein said third material engaging element includes a laterally extending portion adapted for sliding movement in said elongated guide portion.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said elongated guide portion has position indicating indicia marked thereon.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein at least one of said material engaging elements has a fixed width channel formed in the underside thereof.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first and second material engaging elements include a cut-away portion on the underside thereof, said cut-away portion being laterally spaced from said fixed width channel such that said channel lies intermediate of said needle bar and said cut-away portion. 